A school nurse is providing care for students in an elementary education facility. Which of the following interventions by the nurse addresses the primary level of prevention?

A. Use surveillance to investigate outbreaks of foodborne illness. Investigating outbreaks falls under the assessment function of public health, which involves monitoring and identifying health problems within the community through data collection and analysis.

B. Monitor the incidence rates of varicella every 2 months. Tracking disease incidence is part of the assessment function, as it involves ongoing surveillance to detect trends and potential public health concerns. This data helps in planning and evaluating interventions but does not directly ensure service delivery.

C. Organize an immunization clinic for at-risk members of the community. Assurance involves ensuring that essential public health services are available and accessible. Organizing an immunization clinic directly provides a critical health service to protect vulnerable populations, making it an example of the assurance function.

D. Educate the community about the health risks of alcohol use. Providing health education aligns with the policy development function, which focuses on informing and empowering the community to make healthier choices through laws, regulations, and initiatives.

A. Identify the client's current health needs: Assessing the client’s history and physical condition allows the case manager to determine immediate health needs. This step ensures that care planning is based on the client’s specific symptoms, disease progression, and required interventions. Identifying health priorities first helps guide appropriate referrals and treatment decisions.

B. Call the provider with a list of client concerns: While communicating concerns to the provider is important, it should be done after identifying the client’s specific health needs. This approach ensures that discussions with the provider are focused and relevant. Without a clear assessment of needs, the information provided may be incomplete or unstructured.

C. Compile a list of community resources for the client: Community resources can support long-term COPD management, but they should be tailored to the client’s identified needs. The case manager must first assess what resources will be beneficial. Providing resources without understanding the client’s priorities may lead to ineffective or unnecessary recommendations.

D. Refer the client to a COPD support group: Support groups can provide valuable education and emotional support, but referrals should be based on the client’s preferences and readiness. Identifying health needs is the priority before making specific referrals. Ensuring that the client is open to and will benefit from a support group enhances the effectiveness of the referral.